Eagles–Falcons rivalry

Philadelphia Eagles–Atlanta Falcons

Philadelphia Eagles Atlanta Falcons
First meeting	September 18, 1966 Eagles 23, Falcons 10
Latest meeting	September 12, 2021 Eagles 32, Falcons 6
Next meeting	TBA
Statistics
Meetings total	37
All-time series	Eagles, 21–15–1
Regular season series	Eagles, 18–14–1
Postseason results	Eagles, 3–1 Most recent January 13, 2018 Eagles 15, Falcons 10
Largest victory	Eagles 38–7 October 8, 1967
Longest win streak	Eagles, 4
Current win streak	Eagles, 1 (2021–present)

The Eagles–Falcons rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons. The rivalry first emerged when the Falcons upset the Eagles in the 1978 Wild Card Round, and only intensified further in the 2000s with the emergence of star dual-threat quarterbacks in Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick.

History

As of 2021, the Eagles lead the all-time series 21–15–1, and have a 3–1 playoff record. The Eagles were the Falcons' second-ever opponent in the latter's inaugural 1966 season. In that game, Philadelphia won 23–10 as Atlanta went on to finish their first season at 3–11. It was not until 1978, however, that the rivalry truly took off.

1978 Wild Card Round

The Falcons finished the 1978 season 9–7, earning their first-ever playoff berth. Their reward was a home playoff game against the Eagles in the Wild Card Round. The Falcons initially trailed 13–0, but rallied to win 14–13. The turning point of the game came when Falcons quarterback Steve Bartkowski launched a deep pass to wide receiver Wallace Francis, who simultaneously caught the ball with Eagles defender Herm Edwards. Under NFL rules, Atlanta maintained possession following the simultaneous catch, gaining 49 yards in the process. Bartkowski later connected with tight end Jim Mitchell for a 20-yard touchdown, followed by a 37-yard touchdown pass to Francis late in the fourth quarter. Falcons kicker Tim Mazzetti scored the extra point to give Atlanta the lead. Philadelphia punter Mike Michel, who was thrust into kicking duties after a late-season injury to placekicker Nick Mike-Mayer, missed a potential game-winning 34-yard field goal, and was cut soon after..

2000s: Donovan McNabb vs. Michael Vick

Both the Eagles and Falcons would meet almost frequently over the next several years, but in the early 2000s, the rivalry was reignited with the arrival of Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick. The two mobile quarterbacks met for the first time in the 2002 Divisional Round. However, the game failed to live up to the billing, as the Eagles defense sacked Vick (274 passing yards, 30 rushing yards) three times and forced two interceptions, including a 39-yard touchdown return by Bobby Taylor. Meanwhile, McNabb finished with 247 passing yards, 24 rushing yards and a touchdown as Philadelphia won 20–6.

McNabb and Vick would meet once more in the 2004 NFC Championship Game, but the result again favored the Eagles in a 27–10 blowout victory. While McNabb had 180 passing yards, 32 rushing yards and two touchdowns (both were thrown to tight end Chad Lewis), Vick only managed 136 passing yards and 26 rushing yards. Vick was also sacked four times and intercepted twice.

McNabb had defeated Vick in each of their first two meetings, but in Week 1 of the 2005 season, Vick finally bested McNabb in a meaningful contest. In the Monday Night Football opener (the series' final season with ABC until 2020), the Falcons defeated the Eagles 14–10, with Vick scoring the game's first touchdown on a seven-yard run. Overall, the two quarterbacks faced each other in only three of a possible five times during their respective tenures with the Eagles and Falcons. In 2003, Vick missed the Eagles–Falcons game due to a leg injury he suffered in the preseason; the Eagles won 23–16. Then in 2006, McNabb did not play due to a serious knee injury in the Eagles' 24–17 win.

Following a dog-fighting scandal and a 21-month prison sentence, Vick was released by the Falcons after the 2008 season. The Eagles eventually signed Vick prior to the 2009 season, and in his first game in Atlanta with the Eagles, Vick scored two touchdowns while serving as McNabb's backup in the Eagles' 34–7 rout. Vick eventually reclaimed the starting job during the 2010 season after McNabb was traded to the Washington Redskins.

2010s–present: Matt Ryan vs. the Eagles

After releasing Vick, the Falcons groomed Matt Ryan, whom they chose with the third pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, as its new starter. In the 2011 season, Ryan and Vick faced each other for the first time as starting quarterbacks. Vick's second return in Atlanta did not go well, as he suffered a concussion and left the game. Ryan's four touchdowns helped the Falcons defeat the Eagles 35–31, his first career victory over Philadelphia. Ryan also defeated Vick in 2012 as the Falcons cruised to a 30–17 victory. It was also Atlanta's first win in Philadelphia since 1988.

The Eagles and Falcons resumed their playoff rivalry in the 2017 Divisional Round. While Ryan had remained the Falcons' quarterback to that point, the Eagles were now led by Nick Foles, who originally replaced Vick in 2013 and later replaced Carson Wentz as the starter that season. The Falcons entered the contest as defending NFC champions, but the Eagles managed to win 15–10 after stopping the Falcons on a goal-line stand in the final minute. Foles passed for 246 yards, while Ryan ended up with 210 passing yards and a touchdown. The game's key points were scored by Eagles kicker Jake Elliott, who scored three consecutive field goals after the Eagles trail 10–9 in the second quarter.

A rematch took place to kickoff the 2018 season. Much like their playoff meeting the previous year, the Eagles defense stopped yet another potential Falcons' game-winning touchdown in an 18–12 victory. Eagles running back Jay Ajayi scored the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter, and the Eagles broke up a potential Ryan touchdown pass to Julio Jones on fourth down. Wentz later reclaimed the starting quarterback position, but in 2019, his Eagles were on the short end of a 24–20 defeat as Jones scored the game-winning touchdown and the Falcons defense prevented the Eagles from scoring on their final drive.

Game results

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons Season-by-Season Results
1960s (Eagles, 2–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1966 Eagles 23–10 Franklin Field Eagles 1–0 Falcons' inaugural season. 1967 Eagles 38–7 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Eagles 2–0 1969 Falcons 27–3 Franklin Field Eagles 2–1
1970s (Falcons, 3–1–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1970 Tie 13–13 Franklin Field Eagles 2–1–1 First and only tie game in the series. 1973 Falcons 44–27 Veterans Stadium Tied 2–2–1 1976 Eagles 14–13 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Eagles 3–2–1 1978 playoffs Falcons 14–13 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Tied 3–3–1 NFC Wild Card Round. Falcons' first playoff game. Only playoff game between the two teams to take place in Atlanta. 1979 Falcons 14–10 Veterans Stadium Falcons 4–3–1 Falcons take first lead in the series.
1980s (Eagles, 4–3) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1980 Falcons 20–17 Veterans Stadium Falcons 5–3–1 Eagles lose Super Bowl XV. 1981 Eagles 16–13 Veterans Stadium Falcons 5–4–1 1983 Eagles 28–24 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Tied 5–5–1 1984 Falcons 26–10 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Falcons 6–5–1 1985 Eagles 23–17(OT) Veterans Stadium Tied 6–6–1 1986 Eagles 16–0 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Eagles 7–6–1 1988 Falcons 27–24 Veterans Stadium Tied 7–7–1
1990s (Falcons, 3–2) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 1990 Eagles 24–23 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium Eagles 8–7–1 1994 Falcons 28–21 Georgia Dome Tied 8–8–1 1996 Eagles 33–18 Georgia Dome Eagles 9–8–1 1997 Falcons 20–17 Georgia Dome Tied 9–9–1 1998 Falcons 17–12 Georgia Dome Falcons 10–9–1 Falcons lose Super Bowl XXXIII.
2000s (Eagles, 7–1) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2000 Eagles 38–10 Veterans Stadium Tied 10–10–1 First start in the series for Donovan McNabb. 2002 playoffs Eagles 20–6 Veterans Stadium Eagles 11–10–1 NFC Divisional Round. First start in the series for Michael Vick. 2003 Eagles 23–16 Georgia Dome Eagles 12–10–1 Vick missed the game due to injury. 2004 playoffs Eagles 27–10 Lincoln Financial Field Eagles 13–10–1 NFC Championship Game. Eagles lose Super Bowl XXXIX. 2005 Falcons 14–10 Georgia Dome Eagles 13–11–1 Michael Vick's only head-to-head victory over Donovan McNabb in the Eagles–Falcons rivalry, as well as the only regular season meeting. Vick would later defeat McNabb as an Eagle in 2010 against the Redskins, but it marked the final meeting between the two quarterbacks. McNabb defeated Vick in three of five matchups all-time. 2006 Eagles 24–17 Lincoln Financial Field Eagles 14–11–1 McNabb missed the game due to injury. 2008 Eagles 27–14 Lincoln Financial Field Eagles 15–11–1 First start in the series for Matt Ryan. Only meeting between Donovan McNabb and Matt Ryan. 2009 Eagles 34–7 Georgia Dome Eagles 16–11–1 Michael Vick's first game in Atlanta since joining the Eagles. Final start in the series for Donovan McNabb. Only game in the rivalry in which McNabb and Vick were teammates. Chris Redman started the game for the Falcons in place of an injured Matt Ryan.
2010s (Tied, 4–4) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2010 Eagles 31–17 Lincoln Financial Field Eagles 17–11–1 Kevin Kolb started the game for the Eagles in place of an injured Michael Vick. 2011 Falcons 35–31 Georgia Dome Eagles 17–12–1 First-ever meeting between Michael Vick and Matt Ryan. Ryan's first victory against the Eagles. 2012 Falcons 30–17 Lincoln Financial Field Eagles 17–13–1 Final start in the series for Michael Vick. Falcons' first win in Philadelphia since 1988. 2015 Falcons 26–24 Georgia Dome Eagles 17–14–1 2016 Eagles 24–15 Lincoln Financial Field Eagles 18–14–1 First of two meetings between Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz in the rivalry. Falcons lose Super Bowl LI. 2017 playoffs Eagles 15–10 Lincoln Financial Field Eagles 19–14–1 NFC Divisional Round. First of two meetings between Matt Ryan and Nick Foles in the rivalry. Eagles win Super Bowl LII. 2018 Eagles 18–12 Lincoln Financial Field Eagles 20–14–1 NFL Kickoff Game. Last of two meetings between Matt Ryan and Nick Foles in the rivalry. Foles also defeated Ryan in 2020 with the Chicago Bears in relief of Mitchell Trubisky. 2019 Falcons 24–20 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Eagles 20–15–1 Last of two meetings between Matt Ryan and Carson Wentz in the rivalry.
2020s (Eagles, 1–0) Season Results Location Overall series Notes 2021 Eagles 32–6 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Eagles 21–15–1
Summary of Results Season Season series at Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons Notes Regular season Eagles 18–14–1 Eagles 9–6–1 Eagles 9–8 Postseason Eagles 3–1 Eagles 3–0 Falcons 1–0 NFC Wild Card Round: 1978. NFC Divisional Round: 2002, 2017. NFC Championship Game: 2004 Regular and postseason Eagles 21–15–1 Eagles 12–6–1 Tied 9–9

See also

• National Football League rivalries

Notes and references

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